Enma: What do you mean, White Fang is the enemy? The plan to visit Amegakure (three-in-one)

At that critical moment.

A streak of yellow swept in. It was the yellow sand Karura controlled, racing over to form a curtain wall between Shinnosuke Sarutobi's group and the sword-wielding puppet.

Taking advantage of the divided battlefield, Shinnosuke Sarutobi and another Anbu each grabbed one of their dead or wounded comrades and leaped back, using the opportunity to steady their breathing, change ninja tools, and prepare for the next round of fighting.

"Huff, huff-"

"Who the hell is this guy? How is his swordsmanship so good?"

So good that, in a single exchange, he had killed one of the four Konoha Anbu and wounded another, taking nearly half their force out of action!

Shinnosuke Sarutobi was already one of Konoha's leading elite jonin, roughly on par with Fugaku Uchiha when he had a three-tomoe Sharingan. The men he had selected for this escort mission were also Anbu elites, with even the weakest possessing the strength of a special jonin.

In theory, even against a pseudo-Kage-level enemy, the four of them should have been able to hold their own for a while, perhaps even make their opponent suffer through well-coordinated teamwork.

But-

"Am I imagining things?"

"Why do his movements and swordsmanship feel familiar, like I've seen them somewhere before-"

Shinnosuke Sarutobi frowned, having the same thought Rasa had when he heard Sasori's voice earlier. But for the moment, he could not quite

be sure.

That uncertainty did not last long-

Whoosh!

Another sharp sound sliced through the air.

The puppet raised its hand and delivered two slashes, forcibly cleaving apart the yellow sand wall Karura had created.

The dark clouds parted.

Clear, pale moonlight spilled down through the trees.

Through the swirling sand and dust, Shinnosuke Sarutobi finally saw the attacker's face. His eyes widened in an instant, overwhelming